The summer season feels tailor-made for rest and relaxation—but of course, those things aren’t always free. Packing up and heading out on a road trip, a cruise, or a simple family vacation can come with a number of accumulated costs, ranging from travel expenses to hotel fees. For those who are trying to stick to a budget, those costs may be deal-breakers.

Fortunately, there’s a little thing called the staycation that allows you to enjoy some much-needed R&R while sidestepping some of the most onerous travel and lodging costs. Indeed, the whole point of a staycation is that you stay put, living the tourist life from the comfort of your own home.

That may not sound like the most glamorous summer plan, but it can actually be highly enjoyable—and yes, it has the added bonus of helping you maintain some financial discipline. The question is, how can you really get the most out of your staycation experience?

1. Be an Explorer

You might think you’ve seen and done everything your town has to offer—but have you really? Frankly, it’s very easy for all of us to take our homes for granted. How many New Yorkers have never even been to the Statue of Liberty, or gone to a Yankees game? Quite a few!

You may not live in New York, but you probably do live in a place that has a lot of restaurants you’ve never eaten at, shops you’ve never explored, and neighborhoods where you rarely set foot.

The best way to spend your staycation is to adopt a discoverer’s mindset, making it a priority to cover new ground and experience as much of your town as you can.

2. Get Outside

Another way you can enjoy your staycation is to spend as much of it as possible in the great outdoors.

Just think of the possibilities:

• Explore local hiking or biking trails
• Spend a day at the zoo
• Track down the nearest water park, or just a public pool with nice amenities

There are a lot of ways you can soak up fun and sun, without actually having to make the long haul to the beach. (Unless you live near the beach, in which case… even better!)

3. Learn Something

School’s out for summer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give yourself an education.

One way to have a memorable staycation is to sign up for some classes and immerse yourself in new skills. Maybe that means picking up the guitar. Taking a cake decorating class. Enrolling in a cooking course. Or even just heading to the YMCA for your first exposure to yoga or Pilates.

Stretch your mind and expand your skillset this summer! And who knows: You may discover a new venture that you’ll want to pursue even once your staycation ends.

4. Invite Your Friends

You may welcome a little solitude during your staycation, but of course most of the activities we’ve listed here are better when shared with someone.

Be intentional about inviting friends along on some of these outings. You may even want to use your staycation to connect with some old friends who you don’t see as often as you like.

 

Sites like Groupon will even provide you with some savings and financial discounts that you can use with your friends, allowing you to make your staycation even more cost-effective.

5. Take Care of Business

It probably doesn’t sound very fun to use your time out of the office to handle errands and appointments—your vehicle’s oil change, your dental check-up, your annual physical exam, and so forth.

Then again, it can be stressful and challenging to handle those things during the regular work week. And you may welcome the chance to get these tasks done on your own time, without feeling rushed or wondering what you’re missing back at the office.

We’re not saying you have to use your staycation for appointments. Just that it’s an option.

6. Do Nothing

Finally, we offer the most cost-effective staycation idea of all—and for some of you, the most appealing.

7. Don’t do anything.

No, really. Your vacation is supposed to be about relaxing and recharging your batteries. For some people that means getting out and doing things. But for others it might mean sleeping in. Taking naps. Watching Netflix.

Whether you want to take a few hours or even a few days to just decompress, feel free. It’s your staycation. There’s no shame in using it for absolutely nothing!

Those are our tips for mastering the art of the staycation—and remember: As you pursue the best, most cost-effective ways to spend your summer, you might also look into the Binji banking app. There’s never been a more convenient, flexible, and financially disciplined way to manage your money. Check out Binji today!